GMB Scotland in Local Government – Important COSLA Pay Update This weekend school teachers may move to a strike ballot if they reject a pay offer which is greater than any proposal made or deal agreed elsewhere in Scotland’s public sector. On Monday, NHS staff, now locked into a three year deal, will be balloted over reforms to their terms and conditions of employment that would result in cuts to real terms pay. And on Tuesday the UK parliament will vote on the Brexit deal which will have profound consequences for the future of public finances – just days after Derek Mackay warned of further cuts to Scottish frontline services. So why would we rush in on a three year offer when other public sector workers could receive a significantly higher award than council workers and when the future economic outlook is so uncertain? We want to exhaust every possible avenue of negotiation because in the event of a rejection the next step is a full strike action ballot of our members in local government. Full update here: http://bit.ly/COSLAPayLatest

A BIG thank you to all our brilliant heroes working in public services this Christmas, who selflessly give up time with their families to take care of those in need. Thank our public sector heroes, by sharing our message 👇

Yesterday, GMB Scotland received a revised offer from COSLA concerning local government pay. Progress has been made, as it stands this offer would surpass the value of the NHS deal, but there are still concerns about how this latest proposal is weighted across the local government pay grades. After a decade of cuts and against the backdrop of Brexit uncertainty, it is vital we get this deal right to ensure work genuinely pays for staff on the front line of local government.

‪Ahead of today’s Scottish Government budget, GMB Scotland’s Kirsty Nimmo sent a clear message to Derek Mackay, the Scottish government and COSLA - your offer to local government workers is unfair and unequal, and you must do more for those providing frontline services. ‬ Agree with us? Share with your colleagues and join the fight for a fair settlement for local government workers.

An overwhelming majority (85%) of GMB Scotland's 30,000 strong local government membership has voted in favour of industrial action to secure a better pay offer. In light of this, we've issued a warning to COSLA; vital services cannot run without staff, make work pay for them! GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy said: “It’s all well and good for COSLA to call for more money from the Scottish Government to defend services, but they won’t have services to run unless they do more for struggling staff at the coal face of delivery. “After a decade of cuts we can all get behind a fairer funding model for our vital local services but it also requires COSLA to bring forward a credible offer that actually helps make work pay for staff who need it the most.” MORE: http://bit.ly/COSLAResult

THE LAST DAY TO HAVE YOUR SAY Tomorrow, the GMB ballot on industrial action in local government to secure a better pay offer will close. Today is your LAST CHANCE to return your vote and have your say. 92% of GMB members rejected the initial offer on the basis that it was unfair and unequal. After a decade of austerity, it is not credible to offer the biggest cash rises to the Chief Executives and the "top brass", who are already on huge salaries. Despite making more money available for this year's pay deal, NOT A PENNY of this new money has been directed to those on the lowest pay grades. We need to bring COSLA back to the table with an offer that values those workers that need it most, those on the front line who work every day to keep our local services running. That's why we're asking you to vote YES for industrial action. Agree with us? Speak to your colleagues and encourage them to get their YES vote in the post TODAY!

GMB Scotland member in local government? The ballot for industrial action to secure a better pay offer is well underway, and you should soon receive your ballot, either in your workplace or through the post. 92% of GMB members rejected the initial offer from COSLA on the basis that it was unfair and unequal, handing the biggest cash rises to the "top brass", the Chief Executives who are already on huge salaries. In light of this, the latest offer is an insult. Despite making more money available for this year's pay deal, NOT A PENNY of this new money has been directed to those on the lowest pay grades. The original offer was unfair and unequal, this latest offer stretches the local government pay gap yet wider. That's why we're asking you to vote YES for industrial action, and bring COSLA back to the table with an offer that values those workers that need it most after a decade of austerity. Agree with us? Share with your colleagues and encourage them to vote YES!

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY UPDATE GMB Scotland members rejected COSLA's initial pay offer by an overwhelming majority of 92% in our previous consultative ballot. This was on the basis of the initial offer being unfair and unequal. We called on COSLA to do more for those on the lowest pay, as we don't feel it's fair, equal or even credible to offer an average pay increase of £600 to Home Carers, Refuse and Recycling Workers, School Cleaners and Support Staff, while offering £1,600 to the "top brass", the Chief Executives. Our members have been ignored. The new proposal offers 3% to everyone earning up to £80,000, and a flat rate of £1,600 to those earning over £80,000 - so for anyone earning below £36,500 the offer is IDENTICAL to the one you've already rejected earlier this year. After ten years of cuts to pay and after a massive rejection of the original offer, it's clear that COSLA is treating our members across local government with total contempt. The original offer was unfair and unequal, the latest offer makes the inequality even WORSE - stretching the gap between the best paid and the rest even wider. That's why we're asking you to vote YES for industrial action. We need to make COSLA think again and come back to the table with a better offer for those that need it most. Support our campaign for a fair pay rise in local government? Get more information and posters for your workplace here: https://bit.ly/2Qlhup0

GMB Scotland members are in Forfar for today’s meeting of COSLA leaders, where local government pay is on the agenda. The offer on the table, that 92% of GMB Scotland’s 30,000 members in local government have rejected, gives a bigger cash increase to Chief Executives on six figure salaries than those actually providing our services. After a DECADE of austerity, we’ve got a question for Scottish council leaders; why are we, the workers who clean your schools, care for your elderly, sweep your streets and empty your bins, worth less than you?

Our members in local government will be stepping up their campaign for a fair and equal pay offer tomorrow, with a lobby of the COSLA Leaders meeting in Forfar. GMB Scotland's ballot of our 30,000 members in local government returned a 92% rejection of the pay offer, a strong mandate to insist that the COSLA leaders to do more for the lowest paid council workers. Under the existing offer, the pay rises for staff earning over £80,000 a year in local government will be up to eight times greater than the average carer, cleaner or caterer – that is absolutely shameful. GMB's Senior Organiser for Public Services, Drew Duffy, said "It cannot be right that after a decade of cuts to pay and conditions that the highest earners in local government receive the biggest cash lift. This offer is blatantly unfair and unequal which is why it was so resoundingly rejected by our members. The message we will give to council leaders and chief executives as they walk through the door is simple: Our members are delivering your core services - you must do more for the lowest paid in our local authorities and bring forward an improved offer for their consultation.” MORE: http://bit.ly/COSLALobby

We are starting to survey our members working in schools. Our current campaign is tackling violence towards P.S.A. Staff Working in Aberdeenshire schools. Please help us address this growing problem by filling out our survey.

✊ Stephanie Peacock MP is right - the Government should ensure ALL workers on ALL shifts have the right to the National Minimum Wage; including care workers on sleep-ins. Thanks for raising this in Parliament today. Agree? Hit share👇

GMB Scotland members rejected COSLA’s pay offer by a resounding 92%. They rejected this offer on the basis that we cannot allow those earning over £80,000 a year to get as much as eight times more than what the majority of our members can expect from a 3% rise – that’s unfair and unequal. That’s the message personally delivered by GMB Scotland member Shona Thompson, a Home Carer in Cordia Services Glasgow, to the Finance Secretary Derek Mackay on Tuesday 26 June, during talks at the Scottish Parliament. See the latest update from our meeting with Derek Mackay here: http://bit.ly/COSLAPayUpdate

This is the untold story of Scottish education and the truth is shocking. GMB Scotland believes that in NO workplace should violence and aggression be accepted as "normal". Melanie Greenhalgh, North-East Regional Organiser for GMB Scotland, said "I would like more Pupil Support Assistants to speak out – some of them told me incidents can take place five or six times a day, and some assaults can really be quite nasty”. If you work as a Pupil Support Assistant and have faced violence and abuse at work, message us and support GMB Scotland's campaign to urgently tackle this growing crisis.